V THE GENE GENIE!
DENMARK WALES Kasper: Ryan’s Wales are just like Manchester United ‘The kids can t fail next to Bale
James Nursey
KASPER SCHMEICHEL will be on his guard to face Wales today after claiming Ryan Giggs has given them Manchester United’s “DNA”.
United legend Giggs enjoyed a thumping 4-1 win in Cardiff against Ireland in his first competitive game as manager this week.
It was a scintillating attacking display in which Gareth Bale and a young Welsh side rank amok with 18 attempts on goal.
Now Giggs is preparing Wales to take on Denmark, who reached the last 16 of the World Cup, in the Nations League.
The Danes’ Leicester keeper Schmeichel knows Giggs as his dad Peter played alongside him at Old Trafford.
Education
He says Giggs’ education and success under Sir Alex Ferguson at United, where he amassed 34 trophies, is showing in Wales’ tactics.
The 31-year-old said: “You take the last game and you can see the flair and spark they played with.
“It is similar to the DNA he inherited at Manchester United. It is going to be very WALES starlet Chris Mepham has thanked Gareth Bale for helping the nation’s latest generation of youngsters shine under new boss Ryan Giggs.
Wales face Denmark today after thumping the Republic of Ireland 4-1 in their opening Nations League tie in Cardiff on Thursday.
Brentford defender Mepham, 20, was one of a clutch of younger players to make their competitive debuts in the emphatic win.
Ex-manchester United prodigy Giggs threw in Ethan Ampadu, 17, Connor Roberts, 22, David Brooks, 21, and Mepham from the start. Uncapped Tyler interesting to see where he can take it. He has a very talented squad in Wales after something Gary Speed started and continued under Chris Coleman, who did well.
“Now Ryan is putting his own stamp on it and judging by the last game he has had a really good start.”
Wales’ thrashing of Ireland was only Giggs’ fourth game at the helm after beating China 6-0, losing to Uruguay 1-0 and drawing with Mexico 0-0.
Danish coach Age Hareide has also been hugely impressed and seen similarities with United’s style too.
Enthusiasm
Hareide, who was Molde boss when they sold Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to United in 1996, said: “Wales play well offensively and defensively. “They played with young players and the skill and pace of the game was good. “It is like Ryan Giggs has created a copy of the old Manchester United team. “Wales play with enthusiasm offensively, very quick between the lines and go forward with a lot of people. That looks like United in the best period under Ferguson.” Hareide’s preparations have been overshadowed by a contract row between the Denmark players and their FA. It saw them field a makeshift side for Wednesday’s 3-0 friendly loss in Slovakia. But a truce has ensured their first team including Schmeichel, Christian Eriksen and Co are back. Roberts, 19, and Manchester City youngster Matthew Smith, 18, making his second appearance, also caught the eye as subs. Mepham was quick to thank Real Madrid superstar Bale, 29, for helping to encourage Wales’ latest talented crop.
Mepham (right), who made his debut at the China Cup earlier this year, said: “We do feel the spotlight but when you have players like Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen playing in front of you it gives you that cool head to go and play your game. They are a good bunch and we are all here for the same reason – to play international football – and hopefully that continues.” Welsh preparations for tonight’s game were hindered as the squad were delayed by more than two hours in Cardiff yesterday afternoon due a fault with their charter plane. Take-off had to be pushed back to 5.30pm as a new private aircraft was ordered. The players were not due at their team hotel in Aarhus until around midnight.
“I take it all in my stride,” he added. “I’ve been a confident lad since I was a young boy and always believed I could get there. I just went a different route.
“I started in League One, went to the Championship and then to the Premier League, so I’ve got games in my system.
“Being in the Premier League is no different, I just go out there and do what I do and I’m loving every second of it.
“It’s always best to play games – making mistakes in front of crowds when you’re young, you learn so much. If you’re just playing at the training ground you don’t get that experience.
“I was on the bench at 16 for Coventry, I’ve always been involved in a senior setup so it made me grow up a lot quicker.
“My first start was Oldham away and there wasn’t a stand on one side. The changing room was tiny and we lost 4-1.
“You look back on those times and you learned so much from those games.
“I went to Aberdeen and had half a season in a tough, tough league. The type of player I am, I got kicked every week, I was the most-fouled player in the division.”
That type, it has been said, is a continental-style No.10. He said: “I’ve learned from watching Philippe Coutinho, David Silva, it can give you that extra half-a-second. It sounds like nothing but it’s the difference between getting a pass off or getting tackled.”
And Maddison is making sure that every half-second counts.